Fatigue Especially Prevalent in Safety-Critical Industries

Safety is a key concern in any industry; however, it’s clear that some professions are more dangerous than others. Serious injury is more likely on an oil rig or mining operation than in an office setting.
Unfortunately, a report by the National Safety Council titled “Fatigue in Safety-Critical Industries: Impact, Risks and Recommendations” suggests that it’s the dangerous jobs that are most prone to fatigue, which makes those jobs that much more dangerous.
“The report highlights findings from the construction, manufacturing, transportation and utilities sectors–all high-risk industries that tend to use shift work, which commonly leads to fatigue,” according to the Longview News-Journal.
In addition to the risks of fatigue at safety-critical jobs, the report also shows a gap in the perceptions of employees and employers in terms of the risks and consequences of being tired at work.
While 90% of employers say they feel the impact of fatigue on their organizations— which includes observing safety incidents involving tired employees and drops in productivity—only 72% of workers say they see being tired at work as a safety issue. While 72% is a strong majority, it still lags considerably behind the perception of employers.
“Fatigue is a hidden but common hazard in all workplaces, regardless of industry,” says the Longview News-Journal. “In safety-critical positions, however, the consequences of being tired can be catastrophic. For example, mistakes on construction sites, around gas line digging areas or behind the wheel of big-rig trucks easily can lead to injuries or even death.”
Some industries were more aware of the risks of fatigue than others: 97% of employers in the transportation industry said they feel the impact of fatigue; 95% of employers in utilities said it is unsafe to drive while tired, and 100% of construction workers report having at least one risk factor for fatigue.
The National Safety Council study provides some important insights into an often-overlooked safety hazard at worksites. Even if a company is meeting all its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements and has industry-standard safety equipment and procedures, it may still face a considerable risk that its own employees are overworked and under-rested.